Abstract

The integrated acoustooptic (AO) device Modules that utilize Bragg diffraction of guided-optical waves from surface acoustic waves (SAW) in LiNbO₃ planar optical waveguides have been shown to be capable of performing a variety of useful functions in RF signal processing, optical communications, and analog electrooptic computing[l]. However, only a partial or hybrid integration of such AO device modules can be realized at present due to the inability of monolithically integrating lasers and photodetectors on a common LiNbO₃ substrate. InP substrate can potentially provide the capability for total or monolithic integration because both the laser sources and the photodetectors as well as the associated electronic devices have been successfully integrated in the same substrate[2]. More importantly, InGaAsP/InP lattice-matched heterostructures, QW lasers and other photonic devices operating at the desirable optical wavelengths of 1300 and 1500nm are being realized for applications in fiber optic communication systems [3]. In this paper, we report the first theoretical and experimental studies of guided-wave AO Bragg diffraction in a composite InP/InGaAsP/InP planar waveguide structure. Relatively good diffraction efficiency has been accomplished at 1310nm optical wavelength using the SAW at the center frequency of 167 MHz and an acoustic interaction length as small as 1.0mm.

© 1995 Optical Society of America